Kaffe's Utopian Home

I watched a woman in the airport walking along in stockings and high heel shoes after a 12 hour flight and thought I would NEVER have been able to wear stockings on a plane.

Then I saw this dress and was reminded that there might be worse things to wear!  The evidence of changing fashions fills the museums and the streets.

We are surrounded by the evidence of many decorative ages of man.  I had to wonder when we stopped focusing on creating long lasting depictions of the efforts of man in exchange for the sleek, long lines of modern buildings.  These ornate structures enhance every corners and engage each glance in a moment worthy of time.

Look up or around and the eye gets stuck in wonder.  I was particularly taken with this structure in the V&A. How? How did it get there?

Not all modern spaces have lost the art of art.  We stayed at Kaffe's gallery of a house which beckons long glances from the moment one approaches the front door and then in every corner.  It was with a wonderfully strange awareness that I entered this home after pouring over images from within for over a decade.  As the pages of books came to life before me I was suddenly a bit awe struck.  It's true.  He is  living colour.
From front door to back mosaics fill the spaces.

The glisten like shattered fallen rainbows or sit quietly in unexpected places. Having recently renovated my own home I can very much appreciate the effort that goes into seeing then making.  Our home is still and may always be a work in progress but here we found the distinct evidence of creative energy like an archeological site, out bathroom walls were littered with proud china bits.  Where would one start with a project like this?  I am wondering but at the same time making a mental note of my colourful dinner set.  I love it but there are many chips of time and perhaps the next home should be a mosaic structure.

I think too perhaps all my bowls should be filled with intricately beaded beautiful things...

I ran up these stairs many times but not once without noticing the wonderful patterns and colours.  There were patterns and beauty on every surface.

Spot the target?  The round rug on the perfectly composed tiles and a room filled with objects d'art...

 

It made me wonder just a bit...why not fill every space with beautiful things to look at?  And what about a pottery sink? 

More patterns underfoot...

patterns over chairs...

And here is my favourite corner filled with inviting cushions and watched over by a loving collection of Budah bellies!  When we arrived in London I looked up and first saw these creatures in the window and knew we had arrived...a glance further up to the next level and there was Kaffe in the window waving. 

More Budahs...and that gorgeous turban footstool!

If there is one thing that captures beauty in a moment it is tapestry.  The delicate nature of the this was an eye magnet.

 Here is another favourite corner.  Bits of wall paper...today and yesterday combined in a work in progress or deprogressing...a painting and the promise of more beauty to come captured in time.
 

Ok.  So now I imagine your minds as full of ideas.  I felt on many occassions as though my tiny little brain was bursting out of its shell.  The input could never equal the output before my eyes.  Kaffe and Brandon were most generous hosts...if not only to be welcomed into mecca but also with the chat, food and wonderful company. 

 

 

As per usual, time to fly.  We are now in day two in glorious Paris...John chomping at the bit to wear away what is left of my pour aching feet!  more later and as always...thank you more please to the wonders of each day!  k

 

 

 

Comments

[Deb]

Love it al!!!! Wow, how did your brains not explode with all that to look at!!!! Wow!!! Wow!!! Love all the photos!!!! Wow wow, my mind is ticking over!!!
Thank you

[Cathy]

Oh Kathy how wonderful to wander through these rooms of such colour and pattern and shape, etc, etc!!! You must have been pinching yourself! Thank you for the fabulous pics for us to see too, a fabulous assault on the senses! Thinking of you as you trip around. xo

[Sally]

How lucky you are to see Kaffe's house! Instead of weeding out stuff around my home, adding lots of color now seems like the best way to go. Again, thanks for sharing. Sally

[LoriD]

Holy mother of color and pattern!!!

[Sujata Shah]

Wow!!! Lucky you!

[cbabidge]

holy grail...you found it!

[Bronwyn Ugonotti]

Beautiful Beautiful colour! love all the pictures keep sending them. I thought I was the only one who complained of aching feet thanks Kath you have made me feel normal!

[Sal]

Wow, wow and more wow!!! :)

[Jane S.]

Wonderful photos! Seeing the squashed musical instruments hanging in the V&A bring back many happy memories of wandering through the museum.

Aching feet are sometimes well worth it, aren't they. :)

[Deborah]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts & images. Also for more insight into the world of Kaffe. All wonderful! You have taken me back to treasured memories & reminded me of the constant stimulation when exploring foreign places. My feet also ached but now they are itching to adventure again.

[Anna]

WOW, Kaffe and Kathy in the same space...what a riot of vision and color!

[Chris Goodall]

Oh to be so free with colour! It has sparked the imagination. Thanks Kathy. Fabulous!

[Carla]

Wow all that color. Photos were awesome. Thanks for sharing.